France, Aug. 13 -- Negotiators from 184 countries were still deeply divided on Wednesday over how to curb plastic pollution, with less than 36 hours before they were due to finalise a binding global treaty.

Diplomats are "at the edge of a cliff," one official observer told AFP.

Dozens of ministers have arrived in Geneva to try to break the deadlock as the 10-day talks hurtle towards a close, but widely divergent positions have made the search for a so-called landing zone "very difficult", according to Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke.

A new draft of the treaty text, streamlined by the talks chair, is expected later Wednesday, several sources told AFP. A plenary meeting to take stock of where things stand is scheduled for 7pm...